How to Plant Trees

Selecting the Site

Before planting a tree, put a lot of thought into selecting the right site. First look up. If overhead utility lines run above the site, you must select a small tree. Call the American Electric Power Company's Customer Solutions Center at 1-800-956-4237 for information on selecting "the right tree for the right spot." Call Miss Utility at 811 to check on underground utilities before you dig. Then look around to make sure the space will be big enough when the tree matures and the branches and roots spread out.

In the City of Roanoke, a permit is required before planting a tree on public property (such as the strip of land along the street in front of a building). Call 540-853-1994 for more information or download the Roanoke Tree Planting Permit.

American Elms Along Jefferson St.

Digging the Hole

Dig Far Enough Down
to Find the Trunk Flare
Photo: International Society of Arboriculture

You will be digging a hole 3 times as wide as the root ball. First remove the grass; then start digging, placing the dirt on a tarp. The dirt you dig up (but not the grass) will be used to backfill the hole after planting.

If you are using a ball and burlap (B&B) tree, open the top of the burlap. If you are using a container-grown tree, remove it from the container by first putting it on its side and gently hitting the container in several places to loosen the root ball. Look for the trunk flare, which may be covered by soil that you must remove. The trunk flare must stay uncovered when the tree is planted. Stand the tree up and measure the distance between the bottom of the tree and the trunk flare. That is how deep you are going to dig your hole.

Gently loosen the soil in the sides and bottom of the hole so that roots will have an easier time growing. This is especially important if the soil is hard. However, leave a firm pedestal in the center of the hole to support the root ball.

Preparing the Tree

If the tree is in a container, completely remove the container. If the tree is balled and burlapped (B&B), the burlap should be removed from the root ball or at least from the top half of the root ball. Any remaining twine or string must be removed. Any wire around the root ball must be completed removed.

Look for girdling roots that go around the root ball. These must be cut or straightened. Loosen the dirt on the outside of the root ball. Especially in the case of container-grown trees, you may need to separate any tightly compressed roots with your hands.

Planting the Tree

Place the Tree in the Hole and Check the Height
Photo: International Society of Arboriculture

Lift the tree by the root ball instead of the trunk and place it in the center of the hole. Use a piece of wood or taut string to make sure the root flare will be above the ground when the dirt is backfilled. Make sure the tree is straight.

Backfill the dirt from the hole, making sure not to cover the root flare. After every few shovels of backfill, tamp the soil down by hand to collapse air pockets. Too much compression can keep water away from the roots. After planting, the tree must be thoroughly watered and then mulched. See How to Mulch Trees.

Stake the Tree the First Year or Two

You can loosely stake the tree, remembering that it needs to move slightly with the wind. Remove the stakes after one year if the tree is stable.

Watering Your New Tree

Five to ten gallons of water should be slowly poured over the roots every week for the first year or a Gator Bag such as the one in the photo above can be used. The next few years you can reduce the watering to a slow soak once or twice a month during dry periods or if the tree appears dry or stressed. To do this slowly, use a garden hose set on low or just gently pour the water.

For More Information

For more information, visit the Virginia Cooperative Extension and International Society of Arboriculture websites. Watch a tree planting video from This Old House.